An Extraordinary Experience in New Zealand

With so many amazing programs and so many students, we often hear inspiring stories of thanks and praise for the life changing experiences participants enjoy with ISV.

Read below for a great thank you email from a student who recently returned from a four-week volunteer program in New Zealand with ISV.

Dear ISV family,

Hello, my name is Da-Eun Jung and I participated in ISV project in Kuaka, New Zealand (July 09, 2011.)

I am writing to you today because I would like to thank you all for giving me an amazing opportunity to participate in such extraordinary adventure. From this experience, I realized what a small world I was living in. This adventure definitely helped me to open up to the world and to all those infinite possibilities I can be part of. Furthermore, I met and made such amazing friends from all over the world. I’ve heard and shared so many stories with my ISV friends and we became sisters and brothers. In fact, I would like to participate on this same project in three years.

I would like to go back to our project site and observe the changes we contributed to the conservation site. Most of all, I miss my ISV leaders (Chauncey, Cerie, and Laura) and Kuaka family very much. Even though I will re-apply in three years time, do you think I have a good chance of being placed in this same project in the future? I may be thinking and planning way ahead, but this is how desperately I would like to return to the land of the long white clouds and to my ISV family.
Once again, I cannot thank you more for giving me this opportunity.

Kind Regards,

Da-Eun Jung

As you can see, the ISV experience often has an impact on people – and it’s not uncommon for participants to want to go on another trip, or go back to their original program site. We encourage alumni to go on second trips – one great way to return to your original program country is to apply to be an ISV Alumni Project Leader!